Method of sealing dry cells



Aug. 21, 1934. c p, DE|BEL 1,971,254

METHOD OF SEALING DRY CELLS Filed Dec. 13, 1933 7 3 5' i i: :Ii 4 Z 1!: h E

VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented 21, 1934 I v UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,971,254 METHOD oF SEALING nay CELLS Cyril P. Deibel, Lakewood, Ohio Application December 13, 1933, Serial No. 702,189

Claims. (01. 136-175) This invention relates to a method of forming able wrapper or liner 4. Arranged in the mass the seal for dry cells generally and particularly of mix is a centrally disposed carbon electrode 5 dry cells of the type known as flashlight cells. the top of which is covered with a brass cap 6. One of the main objects of the invention is to Surrounding the carbon electrode and covering 5 provide a method for forming seals for dry cells the mass of mix is a lower washer '7 which is 0' of the character described which will provide a formed of cardboard or other suitable material. seal which tightly contacts with the walls of the Also surrounding the carbon electrode is an upcan and also with the cap covering the carbon per washer 8 which is spaced from the lower electro e. washer 7 to provide an expansion v chamber.

Ano her object of the invention is to provide a Closing. the top of the cell is a layer of sealing seal for dry cells of the character described which material 9 which completely-seals the cell and is effectively closes thecell and tends to prevent or bonded with the wall of the zinc can and with the reduce to a minimum the so-called breathing or brass cap 6. The seal is preferably formed of gassing of the cell. resin and talc of about equal parts and if a 'red '15 Another object of the invention is to provide a seal is desired a small amount of iron oxide is dry cell of the character described which is proadded to the mixture. If a blue seal is desired,

. -vided with a seal which tightly contacts with the suitable blue coloring material is added. If dezinc can and the brass cap covering the carbon sired, black pitch may be used instead of resin. electrode. The particular constituents of the mix form 20 Further and more limited objects of the'invenno part of this invention and the cell is formed in tion will appear as the description proceeds and a manner well known to those skilled in the art. y reference 130 the accompanying wing in The seal is poured on top of'the upper washer which Fig. 1 isa view in side elevationof my im- 8 while hot and the can filled up to about the proved cell with parts broken away to show the level shown in Fig. 3. In order to provide a more 25 seal; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the "cellshown effective bond between theseal and the zinc can in F g- 3 is aview similar to Fig. 1 showing as well as. with the brass cap I make use of a the seal before it has been treated according to plunger or die 10 which is shaped as shown most y method; a d 4 1 vi w S m a o Fig- 3' clearly in Fig. 4. After the seal has been poured showing e p un o d e us d for. f min or and has cooled to a suitable temperature, I insert 80 compfessing the Sealthe die 10 into the top of the can to the position Heretofore cells of the flashlight type have shown in Fig. 4. usually embodied a metal can which contains a The die 10 has projections 11 and 12 thereon mass of mix d a centrally Positioned bon which form circular depressions 11' and 12 in electrode. e x be ns u t dcm' the can the top of the seal and tend to urge the seal 35 by means of a diaphragm P p 0 paste or outwardly into firm contact with the zinc can other suitable material. The cell is usually and also inwardly against the brass cap The closed'by means of a seal which is formed of wax, temperature and consistency of the seal at this resin, pitch or other suitable material. The seal time is such that it retains the shape imparted is usually poured into the top of the cell while thereto by the die. In this way I am able to ob- 0 hot and allowed to cool and harden. As the seal tain a veryeffective seal which closely, adheres cools, it contracts and in so doing tends to pull to and bonds with both the zinc can and the cap away f m both the n an and th m tal can on on the carbon electrode. I am also able to elimitop of the carbon electrode and this contraction hate the diillculties hereinbefore referred to and also causes the seal to dish inwardly which has a to prevent the bulging or dishing of the seal 45 harmful effect upon the appearance-as well as which also greatly improves the appearance of upon the efilciency of the seal. I have provided the cell. an improved seal and method of forming the I may prefer to let the seal cool completely, same which will overcome these dimculties. then reheat the upper portion of the seal, so

In the accompanying drawing. the reference that it is semi-plastic and then press the die into 50 character 1 d signates a 'zinc can of the type the seal with the results described-above.

used for flashlight cells and which is enclosed in It will now be clear that I have provided an a paper wrapper or carton 2. The zinc can conimproved seal for dry cells and a method of formtains a mass of depolarizing mix which is indiing the same which accomplish the objects of the cated by the reference character 3 and which is invention as'hereinbefore stated. It is to be 55 insulated from the'zinc can by means of a suitunderstood that various changes may be made 1110'- in the shape 01' the die as well as in the.constituents of the sealing material'without departing from the spirit of the invention as the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is merely illustrative and is not to be considered in a limiting sense and the invention is limited only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: a

1. The method of sealing dry cells of the type including a metal can in which is arranged a mass of mix and an electrode having a cap on.

- the, upper end thereof, which consists in closing the cell with a mass of soft sealing material disposed in contact with the can and cap and pressing the sealing material while in a plastic coning a metal cap on the upper end thereof, which;

consists in pouring hot sealing material into the top of the cell to seal the same and to contact the can and cap, pennitting the sealing material to cool to a point where it may be shaped, and compressing the sealing material into flrm contact with the zinc can and metal cap.

4. The method of sealing dry cells of the type including a zinc can in which is arranged a mass of mix and an electrode having a metal cap on the upper end thereof, which consists in pouring the seal so that it is in contact with the can and cap, allowing the seal to cool and harden, then reheating the seal to render its upper portion plastic and then compressing the seal outwardly against the zinc can and inwardly against the metal cap.

5. The method of sealing dry cells of the'type including a zinc can in which is arranged amass of mix and an electrode having a metal cap on the upper end thereof, which consists in pouring hot sealing material into the topof the cell in contact with the can and cap, permitting the sealing material to cool and harden, then reheating the upper portion of the seal and com pressing the same into firm contact with both the zinc can and the metal cap.

CYRIL P. DEIBEL. 

